Church on the Outside - Looking In

I am great at starting conversations

Jesus did two things - Jesus sought people out, and people sought him out

JESUS SEEKING OUT - jesus moving in the spirit - picking his disciples, meal with zaccheaus, conversation with samaritan woman

How intentional are we with the people around us?

How many intentional conversations? How many intentional actions?

Jesus didn’t shoehorn - he appealed to needs, either ones informed BY the person (asking questions, seeking him out) or by the spirit (conversation with the samaritan woman)

How do we find out these needs? Listen to God, and listen to them.

PEOPLE SEEKING OUT - people saw Jesus’ faith and life on display, and they came with their needs.

Nicodemus; the sinful woman annointing jesus’ feet; the pharisees / sadducees challenging him; the masses looking for healing and teaching

This process was also needs prompted - they saw what was being offered, and saw that they needed it.

And Jesus responded to those people in their times of need. He provided food. He provided teaching. He provided forgiveness.

The important thing for us to understand as a church is that In God, we have everything the world needs - every one of us.

This isn’t limited to the pastor, or the organization of the church. It’s every one of us. When we aren’t showing the world God in us, we are depriving them of something they need.

We treat being in a church like we’re in a gated community (we’re all on the inside, go talk to the gate keeper if you want more info, not us) when we’re supposed to see ourselves as relief workers and fire fighters (people desperately need what we have, they desperately need our help).

Church isn’t about signing up to visit a place - church is about signing up to join a mission.

Maybe you think you don’t have what it takes to be on mission. Maybe you aren’t as talented as your pastor, or as filled with power as Jesus

Two responses - first, Jesus expected us to do greater things than He did (John 14:12

John 14:12 NIV

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

But secondly, story - feeding of the 5000, little boy with two loaves

He didn’t have enough to feed the 5000 - but when he gave it to Jesus, the 5000 got fed

God can take your little things and use them for His big things

So let’s not deprive the world of what they need. And this is what Church on the outside is about - committing to joining into the mission of God the other 167 hours we have outside of one hour on Sunday.

So here is our challenge for this week, our question: What needs are there around you?

If you know, write them down.

If you don’t, there’s two ways we talked about earlier - listen to God, and listen to others. So we’re going to take 10 minutes to ask God the question, ‘What is the little that I have that the people around me need?’, and actually stop and listen to hear what he has to say. That’s what we’re giving you time to do right now.

But the challenge goes beyond that - spend the week trying to get to know your neighbours better. We will be posting ideas throughout the week to help you do this.

And a reminder - we are looking for homes to host this ‘Church on the Outside’ movement. Right now, we’re just asking you to find someone to work WITH, and think of people to work FOR. Then reach out and contact me at [e-mail]